Ezgi Bilgin

Ezgi is a final-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Psychology with a minor in cognitive science. She received her M.A. in cognitive psychology from Koç University, Turkey. Her research focuses on the impact of the Internet and social media on memory. She studies how digital platforms shape remembering and forgetting, and the cognitive and cultural mechanisms underlying these processes. Besides, she is an avid runner, and one of her dreams is to run in the Boston marathon.

CAGLA DUMAN

Cagla is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science. She holds an M.A. in Cognitive Psychology from Bogazici University, Turkey. Her research examines sociocultural and emotional processes involved in autobiographical memory. She is interested in how these processes shape the ways people remember and narrate personal experiences, as well as how remembering and sharing those experiences can, in turn, influence emotional responses and well-being. Outside of research, Cagla enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time in nature. 

Olivia L. Jäggi

Olivia is a fourth-year PhD Candidate in the Department of Psychology with a minor in cognitive science. Before joining the Culture & Cognition Lab, she received her B.A. in psychology from UC Berkeley, and then spent two years working as a research technician in the Roediger Lab at Washington University in St. Louis. Olivia is interested in the way people perceive and remember absences, how people imagine the future, and how culture influences those processes. In her free time, Olivia enjoys baking, designing builds in Minecraft, and doing Judo!

YI CAO

Yi Cao is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Psychology. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Psychology from Peking University, China. His research primarily focuses on how  Eastern and Western cultures influence sense of humor. More recently, he has also been exploring how artificial intelligence affects human behavior. Other than research, he enjoys exercising and traveling.

Boyang Zhou

Boyang (Sophia) is a first year MA student in Human Development, Developmental Psychology. She received her B.S. in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience and Math & Econ in University of California, San Diego. She has a broad interest in learning and memory, economic decision making, and sociocultural factors that influence children's social and cognitive development. Other than research, Sophia loves playing ping pong and enjoys K-pop music.

Zihan Deng

Zihan Deng is a first-year M.A. student in Human Development, Developmental Psychology, at Cornell University. She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research interests broadly focus on autobiographical memory, well-being, and adolescent development. Outside of research, she enjoys art, traveling, and outdoor sports.

Rachel Fan

Rachel is an M.A. student in Psychological Sciences and Human Development with a concentration in Developmental Psychology. She received her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Public Health Sciences from the University of California, Davis. Before joining the Culture & Cognition Lab, she spent a year as a research assistant in the Social Cognition Lab at UC Davis. Her research interests broadly include autobiographical memory, social cognition, and how cultural and social contexts shape the way people remember and interpret their experiences. Outside of research, Rachel enjoys baking and music.

JOSEPHINE KELLY

Josephine is a Junior in the College of Arts & Sciences double majoring in Cognitive Science and Information Science. She is fascinated by studies of human psychology, specifically centering around sociocultural nuances and memory. Focusing through a pre-medical track lens, Josephine is inspired by the different ways we perceive the world. Outside of the lab, she is on the Cornell Assistive Technology project team, educating and inspiring wide audiences on adapted devices for those with disabilities; it is invaluable to consider individual capabilities and perspectives in design. She also enjoys swimming and reading in her free time.

Kelsey Pan

Kelsey is a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in Cognitive Science and pursuing a pre-medical track. She is particularly interested in psychiatry and in understanding how cultural contexts and the digital world shape the ways people perceive and remember themselves and the world around them. Outside of the lab, Kelsey spends much of her time tutoring high school students in math, science, English language arts, and Spanish. In her free time, she also loves playing piano, baking, and listening to new music.

Lin Kuang

Lin Kuang is an undergraduate student at Cornell University majoring in Environment and Sustainability on the pre-med track. She is interested in the connections between the environment, human health, and community well-being. Through research, she hopes to explore these connections and help make science accessible and meaningful to others. Outside of academics, Lin enjoys drawing, spending time outdoors, and talking to new people!

Audrey Shiono

Audrey is a Freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in Biological Sciences. She is interested in how culture influences autobiographical memory and human cognition. At Cornell, she is involved with the Cornell Undergraduate Research Board and the Cornell Kendo Club. She enjoys spending time with friends and playing with her dog.

2026